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Clifton Park Water Authority

Clifton Park, NY · serves 39,060 · Purchased surface waterNY4500175
Worth watching
Naturally occurring lithium detected. No federal limit. Research is preliminary; see the lithium learn page for context.
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Measured in your 2022 water report
From your utility's Consumer Confidence Report · 19 contaminants tested
Above limit
Approaching limit
Within limits
Regulated contaminants — legally enforceable limits
Barium▸
0.024 mg/L
MCLlegally enforceable
What is it?
A naturally occurring metal found in mineral deposits. Enters water through erosion of natural deposits or discharge from drilling and metal refining operations.
Why it matters
At high levels, barium can cause increased blood pressure. Levels well below the MCL of 2 mg/L are not a health concern.
What to do
No action needed at typical detection levels. Barium is rarely found near its MCL in treated drinking water.
Nitrate (as N)▸
0.25 mg/L
MCLlegally enforceable
What is it?
Comes from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. One of the most common groundwater contaminants in agricultural areas.
Why it matters
Nitrate above 10 mg/L can cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) in infants under 6 months — it interferes with blood's ability to carry oxygen. Adults can tolerate higher levels.
What to do
If you have an infant on formula and your water is above 5 mg/L, consider using bottled water for formula preparation. Boiling water does NOT remove nitrate — it concentrates it.
What the research says
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found neural tube defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight at concentrations as low as 5 mg/L — 2x below the US federal limit.
Lead & copper — tested at your tap
Copper▸
0.72 mg/L
Action levellegally enforceable
What is it?
Leaches from copper household plumbing and pipes. Some copper is a normal part of drinking water infrastructure.
Why it matters
Short-term exposure above the action level of 1.3 mg/L can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure can cause liver and kidney damage. At typical detected levels (well below the AL), copper is not a health concern.
What to do
If above the action level, run your tap for 30 seconds before drinking. Copper levels decrease as water flows through the pipes.
Lead▸
0.0019 mg/L
Action levellegally enforceable
What is it?
Lead in drinking water almost always comes from your home's plumbing — not from the water source or treatment plant. Lead pipes, solder, and brass fixtures can leach lead, especially if water sits in pipes for hours.
Why it matters
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Even low levels can harm children's brain development, and cause kidney and blood pressure problems in adults. The action level of 15 µg/L is a regulatory trigger, not a safety threshold.
What to do
Run your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, especially in the morning. Use cold water for cooking and formula — hot water leaches more lead. A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead removal is the most reliable protection.
What the research says
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead crosses the placenta and causes preterm birth and cognitive impairment in children at blood lead levels below 10 µg/dL.
Disinfection byproducts
TCAA▸
21.9 µg/L ×1.1
MCLGhealth goal, unenforced
What is it?
A haloacetic acid formed during chlorine disinfection of source water containing organic matter. One of five HAAs regulated together as HAA5.
Why it matters
EPA sets the MCLG at 0.02 mg/L based on liver effects observed in animal studies. Classified as suggestive but not yet established as a human carcinogen. Regulated as part of the HAA5 group (60 µg/L).
What to do
Like other HAAs, TCAA is reduced by carbon-block filtration at point-of-use (NSF/ANSI 53 certified for VOCs). Reducing the parent organic load — through utility-side treatment changes — is the more effective approach at scale.
BCAA▸
1.17 µg/L
No additional information available for this contaminant.
BDCAA▸
1.22 µg/L
No additional information available for this contaminant.
DCAA▸
13.3 µg/L
What is it?
A haloacetic acid formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter during disinfection. One of five HAAs regulated together as HAA5 (limit: 60 µg/L).
Why it matters
EPA classifies DCAA as a likely human carcinogen and sets the MCLG at zero. Animal studies show liver, neurological, and reproductive effects, and developmental concerns have been raised at high prenatal exposures. The HAA5 group limit reflects feasibility, not the MCLG.
What to do
DCAA forms in your utility's treatment process. Point-of-use carbon-block filters certified for VOC reduction (NSF/ANSI 53) can reduce HAAs. Running cold tap water briefly before drinking helps clear water that has sat in pipes where DBPs continue to form.
WHO recommendation
Manganese▸
0.002 mg/L
WHO guidelineinternational, unenforced
What is it?
A naturally occurring metal that enters water through eroding rocks and soils, and occasionally from industrial sources. Common in groundwater, especially in some regions of the Midwest and Northeast.
Why it matters
Manganese is essential in small amounts but a developmental neurotoxin at higher exposures. Studies have linked manganese in drinking water to attention and learning difficulties in children, including ADHD, with effects detectable at levels below the EPA's aesthetic standard of 0.05 mg/L. The WHO sets a provisional health-based guideline of 0.08 mg/L; some researchers argue this should be lower. Infants drinking formula made with manganese-rich water may be particularly exposed. EPA's 0.05 mg/L secondary standard exists to prevent black or brown staining on laundry and fixtures — not as a health protection.
What to do
If manganese is at or near WHO's 0.08 mg/L guideline, a reverse osmosis filter certified to NSF/ANSI 58 removes most manganese. Activated carbon and standard pitcher filters do not effectively remove dissolved manganese. For infant formula preparation, parents in areas with detectable manganese may want to use filtered or bottled water — this is what MDH (Minnesota) and several other state health departments now recommend.
What the research says
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found increased ADHD risk and lower IQ in children, with effects observed in a dose-response pattern from <5 µg/L upward (no clean threshold below which the association disappears) with a dose-response relationship across the range of concentrations found in drinking water.
Sodium▸
29 mg/L
WHO guidelineinternational, unenforced
What is it?
Naturally present in most water sources. Also increases from road salt, water softeners, and natural mineral deposits.
Why it matters
There is no federal MCL for sodium. The WHO suggests a guideline of 200 mg/L for people on sodium-restricted diets. For most people, sodium in water is a small fraction of dietary intake.
What to do
If you're on a sodium-restricted diet and your water is above 20 mg/L, talk to your doctor. For most people, no action needed.
% of limit

Other measurements

These describe characteristics of the water that aren’t health risks at typical levels — mineral content, taste, hardness, and similar.

Bromide
▸
0.0396 mg/L
Chloride
▸
11.3 mg/L
(EPA secondary standard: 250 mg/L)
TOC
▸
4.19 mg/L

CCR data in early access — values are extracted from utility PDFs and may contain errors. Verify with your utility's 2022 CCR report.

Source: CLIFTON PARK WATER AUTHORITY Consumer Confidence Report 2022 · Extracted by WaterScore
Measured data
Private Well Risk

Do you have or use a private well? Measured concentrations from nearby private wells sampled within 5 miles.

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2 sites within 10 mi
Nearby Superfund Sites

2 EPA Superfund sites within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily mean your water is affected.

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Blended supply
Water Sources

Clifton Park uses both groundwater and surface water sources, giving it more supply flexibility during drought conditions. Emergency backup sources are available if primary supplies are disrupted.

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Spatial context
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